Reader Letter | Proposed changes aren't a war on preservation

I believe in the need to preserve the history of a community. All of us should be mindful of our past and acknowledge the benefit of retaining those things which enhance our neighborhoods and promote our heritage.

When I began this effort, it was not to ignite a "war on preservation." My first real involvement in the historic preservation process began with the Colonial Gardens decision long before I ever took political office. I attended the meetings with the Landmarks Commission, and discovered that they do not look at the cost/benefit of landmarking or the impact on the surrounding community. One would think that would be a key component for consideration.

This was the impetus for starting a dialogue among my colleagues about what works and what does not, and what improvements can be made to strike a much needed balance to the process. My goals are simple: First, ensure that people around any proposed landmark are informed of what's going on and are at least part of the process. Second, after the Landmarks Commission makes its determination, allow for oversight by the people's elected representatives, the Metro Council, if needed.

The amendments to this ordinance take a common sense view, allowing for oversight and accountability, and requiring that the community surrounding the structure be involved and engaged in the process by requiring that the lesser of 101 or 10 percent of the residents or property owners within the prescribed one-mile radius sign the petition. The Landmarks Commission's determination will stand as final if the council doesn't act within 60 days. This allows the Metro Council to at least look at all aspects of impact on a community which the Landmarks Commission cannot do.

Over the past few months, my colleagues and I have worked together with preservationists and the residents of our community to put forward a good piece of balanced legislation that addresses all of our concerns.

Simply put, there can be no dispute that authority for the designation of local landmarks and historic districts lays solely with the Metro Council, like any other zoning issue that requires a council vote. In fact, the existing law already requires Metro Council approval for designation of historic districts.

What has developed over these last few weeks is misinformation and supposition about these changes that is being pushed by a small, well-organized group of local preservationists. In the past few weeks, I have received emails and messages from this group voicing a strong opposition, using misinformed talking points and most of them residing in the same very small portion of our city. I have repeatedly received feedback from residents of my district and other parts of our city that feel this process is not well communicated and they continue to voice their concerns that an appointed, unelected body makes full and final decisions that affect their community without additional checks or oversight.

Many would like to characterize our common sense, balanced amendments to this ordinance as a "war on preservation." It is misguided and dangerous for these individuals to use such volatile words to describe what should be a collaborative and productive effort on what can be done to improve this process and balance it with the needs of our collective community and each of our individual rights and privileges. The idea that the law in its current form still works after 40 years only applies to the small group of individuals that it does work for, and does not reflect the desire of the community as a whole or the individuals whose voices have fallen on deaf ears. Better government with oversight and accountability should not be tossed aside just because it annoys a powerful, wealthy and vocal group of individuals.

DAVID YATES

District 25 Councilman -

Louisville 40214 -

Louisville, Kentucky • Southern Indiana

ADVERTISEMENT

Most Popular

Most Commented

More Headlines

Most Viewed

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

Reader Letter | Proposed changes aren't a war on preservation

I believe in the need to preserve the history of a community. All of us should be mindful of our past and acknowledge the benefit of retaining those things which enhance our neighborhoods and promote